Pulsating hydraulic pump equipment



March 26, 1957 J. LYNN 2,786,419

PULSATING HYDRAULIC PUMP EQUIPMENT Filed Oct. l0, 1955 INVENTOR JohnLynn ATTORNEY;

PULSATING HYDRAULIC PUMP EQUlPMENT John Lynn, Alice, Tex.

Application October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,437

10 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 44) This invention relates to improvements in wellpumping equipment, with particular reference to a unit which can besubmerged in the liquid within the well at a desired level, under suchcircumstances that it can readily be cleaned of sand and sediment merelythrough controlled lifting of a part of the pump unit through a shortdistance within the Well.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved pumpunit for use within wells, having an improved arrangement for the easycleaning of sand and sediment therefrom without removal of the unit orany part of it from the well.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a pulsator type'of submersible well pump having an improved expansible elasticpulsator.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedsubmersible well pump, constructed of a series of readily detachableparts.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

ln the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing the improvedpump unit and a prime mover for intermittently actuating an operatinguid.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the details ofthe submersible pumping unit.

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse cross sectional views taken substantiallyon the respective lines 3-3 and 4-4 shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through a modifiedform of ring through which passage of an operating uid takes place.

ln the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown animproved pumping unit and actuating means therefor, the letter A maygenerally designate the entire equipment. It may consist of a pumpingunit B adapted to be submerged within a liquid within a well fordetachable connection with the well tubing or casing C. Prime movingmeans D is provided for intermittently controlling the ilow of anoperating iluid through the working line E to the unit B.

Referring to the pumping unit B, shown in sectional detail in Figure 2,the same preferably comprises an inner Working barrel, cylinder orsleeve 10, preferably of steel or other metal, having 4an operating uidtransmitting passageway 11 therethorugh. lts upper end is externallyscrew threaded at 12 for attachment to the working line E by means of acoupling 13, as shown in Figure 1. The sleeve or cylinder isl externallyscrew threaded 4upon its lower end at 14 ,for detachably receiving acone shaped nut 15; the latter being adapted to maintain the lower endof a pulsator member upon the cylinder 10, in a manner to besubsequently described. The barrel 10 is thickest at the intermediateportion and provides an exnited States Patent ternal upwardly facingshoulder 16 at its upper end and a downwardly facing shoulder 17 at itslower end for receiving thereagainst certain upper and lower steel ringsforming part of the holding means for the upper and 5 lower ends of apulsating member.

The pulsating member 20 is an expansible elastic sleeve, preferably ofneoprene or some other oil resistant material. It is inherentlycontractible to the position shown in Figure 2, and if desired, it maybe reinforced with nylon cording. It varies in thickness from the lowerend thereof where it is of least thickness to the upper end thereofwhere it is of greatest thickness. The increase in thickness ispreferably uniform from the lower end to thev upper end, in order thatthe lower end of the sleeve will expand more readily than the upper end.Thus, the lower end first expands and progressively expands upward forthe purpose of directing liquid to be pumped in an upward directionthrough the working chamber of the unit B. The variation in thickness istaken care of by externally sloping or tapering the sleeve in anupwardly diverging relation.

The unit B preferably includes an outer working barrel, cylinder orcasing 30 the upper end of which is externally threaded at 31a forconnection by means of a coupling 32 to the lower end of the tubing orcasing C, as shown in Figure l. The casing or cylinder 30 is thickest atits intermediate portion, defining an upwardly facing shoulder 31 at itsupper end and a downwardly facing shoulder 32 at its lower end, againstwhich certain rings of the pump unit are adapted to be seated, as willbe subsequently described.

The outer working barrel 30 is internally screw threaded at 33, from theupper end thereof down to the shoulder 31, for removably receiving asteel ring 34. The latter is externally threaded to mate with thethreads 33. This sleeve 34 is provided with a seating face 35 on theinner surface thereof, which slopes convergently downward.

The working barrel 30 at its lower end is internally screw threaded at36 for removably receiving a steel ring or member 37. The latter isexternally threadedfor mating with the threads 36. This ring 37 isprovided with a passageway 38 therethrough. lt is internally andcircumferentially smooth at its upper half, but at its lower half it isprovided with vertical ridges which extend thereinto. These ridges arespaced to provide grooves 39 through which oil or liquid is adapted topass from the well below the unit B into the accumulating chamber 40between the sleeve 20 and the cylinder or barrel 30.

Referring to the means which connects the upper end of the expansiblepulsator 20 upon the inside working sleeve or barrel 10, a steel ring 41is provided. It has a passageway therethrough adapted to be slipped overthe upper end of the inside working barrel 11, upon which it has a snugsliding fit. The lower end rests detachably against shoulder 16 to holdit in place. This ring 41 in thickness cross section is triangular inshape, having an outer lower surface 43 which slopes from about midwayof the sleeve 40 downwardly and inwardly. It has an upper slopingsurface 44 which slopes upwardly and inwardly from about midway of itsheight. This surface 44 is provided with a number of annular grooves 45therein.

The upper end of the expansible member 20 is adapted to be expanded overthe surfaces 43 and 44 of the ring 41, and the uppermost portion of thisexpansible sleeve 20 is firmly secured upon the ring 41 because ribsmoulded upon the sleeve fit into and are compressed into the grooves 45.

A steel ring 46, complementary to the rings 34 and 41, has a centralpassageway 47 adapted to slip over the upper end of the inside cylinder10, as shown in Figure 2 with a snug sliding fit upon the externalsurface of said sleeve` 10. Ring 46v is provided with an` innerv angledsurface 48 at the lower portion thereof, sloping convergently upwardly.It has, a plurality of. grooves 49 inwardly therein. This'surfa'cedseats externallyagainst the'upperend'of the expansible member 21B.'Ribs are moulded externally upon the end of the' sleevev 26' for seatinginthe grooves' 49. The ring 46' is provided with a downwardlyconvergentV outerI surface Sti for seating upon" the inner. passageway35 of sleeve 34, as shown in Figure 2: Itis shown in. Figure 3`that theinner annular surface. 35 of ring 34' is provided with a series ofupright grooves 51 open to the chamber 4t) at their lower ends and'attheir upper ends openinginto the top of theworlting barrel 30' fortransmittal of liquid from the operating chamber 40 into well tubing C.The grooves 5i could just as Well be provided upon the face 50 of thering 46.

Aflexible flap valve 52,l of ring shaped formation, is seated upon thetop. surface of the rings 3d and 46, with its outer flexible and movablemargin normally closing the upper ends of the grooves Si. This apvalve52 receives thereon a sleeve type nut 5'5v which is screw threadedinternally for mating with the threads l2 of the upper end of the barrel10. The nut 55 clamps the sleeve 46 downwardly in compressing engagementupon the upper end ofthe pulsator 2t), compressing it between ther-ings41and 46. The sleeve 20 is distorted into the grooves 4S and 49for thefirm holding of the pulsator 20upon the upper part of the unit B in therelationship shown in Figure. 2. The nut 55 is externally screw threaded`for receivinga ap valve clamping nut 6i) which clamps against the innermargin of ap valve 52 for holding it in place against the steel ring 46.

Referring to the structure for holding the lower portion of the pulsator20 upon the inside working barrel 10, a steel ring 70 is provided,slidably but snugly seated externally on the lower end of the workingbarrel l0, in upper end abutment with the shoulder 17. This ring 70 hasan upper outer surface 71 which slopes divergently downward to alocation intermediate the ends of the ring 70, and a lower downwardlyconvergent outer surface 72 provided with annular grooves 73 inwardlythereof. The thinner lower end of the pulsator Zil is expanded over theouter surfaces 7l and 72 of this ring.

Ribs are internally moulded upon the end of sleeve Ztl for seating inthe grooves 73.

The lower portion of the working barrel It), over. which the ring 70 isdisposedis provided with an annular series of ducts 74 therethrough forpassage of the operating fluid. Ring is provided with complementaryannular series of ducts 75 therethrough aligning with the ducts 74. Theducts 75 open into enlarged openings 75 externally on the outer surfaceofthe ring 70. ln lieu of the enlarged portions 75a an annular groove 76may be provided into which the ducts 7Sb open, as shown in the modifiedform of ring 70a, shown in Figure 5. A steel ring 80 is provided fordisposition within the passageway of the ring 37. it is of triangularcross section and has a sloping downwardly convergent inner face orpassageway 81, angularly grooved at S2, for receiving external ribsmoulded upon the sleeve 20. The ring 80 is adapted to seaty against theouter side of the lower end of the expansible sleeve 20. The tapered nutl5 has an internally screw threaded opening 84 therein for mating withthe screw threads 14 at the lower end of the inside werking barrel 10.The nut 15 clamps against ring S0 for forcing it into holding andclamping engagement with the lower end of the pulsator for. seating itagainst the ring 70. The clamping action of the nut i5 compresses themoulded ribs of the sleeve 20 into the grooves 73 and 82 for holding thepulsating sleeve at its lower end between the rings 76 and Si), as shownin Figure 2. Nut 15 converges to a point and has a closed chambertherein facing passageway 11.

It is toy be noted that ring 80. in depth extends only for the height ofthe grooves 39, so that the upper portion of the passageway 38 throughlthe sleeve 37 is unobstructed to permit the lower end of the sleeve 29to expand against its smooth surface and seal ott travel of liquidthrough the grooves 39, at the time of expansion of the pulsator sleeve20.

If desired, the ring 70 may have a key to seat in a groove (not shown)in thev lower end of the working barrel 1t) in order to insure that theducts 74 and 75 will lie in true alignment when the ring 70 is seatedupon the lower end of said barrel 10.

Any suitable prime moving means for intermittently expanding thepulsator 2t), by means of operating fluid, may be provided. Means Dshown may consist of a motor including a cylinder 90, having a piston93. operating in the chamber 92 thereof. The piston 9i is crankoperated. The cylinder has connected therewith a pipe line 93 connectedwith-the working. line E; a detachable coupling 94 being provided fordisconnecting the tubing 93 from the working line E.

l may use liquid, gas. or air as the operating fluid. aureferably oil isused. It is intermittently placed under pressure in the cylinder 9() bymeans of piston 9i and forced through tubing 93 andthe working line Einto the unit B. It travels through the ducts 74 and 75, entering theexpansible elastic sleeve or member Ztl and expanding it. Such expansionseals off ingress of liquid from the well through grooves 39 to thechamber 4t) by seating against the smooth upper portion of thepassageway 38. The pulsating sleeve 20 is expanded, rst from its lowerend then progressing upward, for decreasing the effective volume ofchamber 40. Thus, the accumulated liquid is forced through the grooves51 into the tubing C and elevated therein. It is discharged through anupper lateral line 96. The expansible elastic member 20 inherentlycontracts to the position shown in Figure 2. However, upon the returnstroke of the piston 90 a partial vacuum will be created in thepassageway through the. inner working barrel 10. This will also tend tocontract the expansible member 20 to the position shown in Figure 2.Such contraction will suck liquid from the well below the unit Bupwardly through grooves 39 into the chamber 40, filling the same, sothat upon return inward stroke of the piston 90 the liquid will beforced, as above described, through the grooves 5l into the well.tubing. It will be.V noted that flap valve 52 normally closes oif. thegrooves 51, so that the column of liquid in the tubing C.v will be.supported until it is replenished and elevated by expansion of thepulsating member 20, as above described.

In connection with the. prime mover, I provide a reservoir or tank thechamber of which connects with the piston chamber by means of a. line3.01 wherein a pressure reducing by-pass valve 102 is located. Thisreservoir takes care of excess operating fluid. The pressure reducingvalve 102 insures that there will be a relief of excess pressure uponthe operating fluid.

Aside from the improved means for mounting the pulsating member 20 inthe unit B, the easeof cleaning sand and sediment from the unit B willbe apparent from the above description. One of the most troublesomefeatures of pump units placed for submerging within the liquid of a wellis the fact that sediment and sand collect in it, clogging. the same andrendering it ineicient in use. The improved unitB may be readily cleanedof sand merely by disconnecting coupling 94 and lifting the working lineE a short distance. It will be noted that the steel ring 46 seatsagainst ring 34. This holds the entire lower assemblage upon the inner`working barrel 1G in suspended position. There is nothing to impedelifting of this entire assemblage including the ring 46, off of theseating face 3S. Suchdisconnection and lifting of the fluid. power linea short distance, permits the oil or liquid in thezcasing Cto ow'rapidlythrough the cylinder, removing. sand and. sedimentfromthe ingress andegress passageways of the rings 37 and 34, and the flushing of sand andsediment from the chamber 40. Lowering of the pumping line E willproperly seat the inner working parts of the unit B with respect to therings 34 and 37, as is quite apparent.

lt will be apparent from the foregoing that an improved hydraulic pumphas been provided for submergence in the liquid of a well, the parts ofwhich are of simple arrangement, and so assembled that sand and sedimentmay be inexpensively and with facility, and with loss of very littletime, flushed 'to permit eicient operation of the pump, withoutwithdrawing it from the well.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown, without departing from the spiritof the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a hydraulic pump unit for use in the pumping of liquids from wellsthe combination of an outer working cylinder, an inner working cylinderwithin the outer working cylinder, an expansible pulsating sleevenormally inherently contracted upon the inner working cylinder andexternally defining an accumulation chamber between the same and theinner surfacing of the outer working cylinder, 'means connecting theupper end of the pulsating sleeve upon the inner working cylinderincluding an annular supporting flange, a seat mounted inside of theouter working cylinder at the upper portion thereof upon the top ofwhich the annular flange releasably seats and is removable therefrom bymere linear lifting action, the seating surfaces of said flange andouter working cylinder seat defining liquid egress passage means, pumpvalve means mounted upon said inner working cylinder normally closingoff the egress passage, means connecting the lower end of the expansiblesleeve to the lower end of said inner working cylinder including anannular portion facing the outer working cylinder and defining aningress passage for travel of liquid from the well into the accumulatingchamber, the inner working cylinder having port means in the lowerportion thereof to the lower inner portion of the pulsating sleeve forexpanding the same and sealing off the ingress passage under pressure ofoperation fluid within the inner working cylinder.

2. ln a hydraulic pump the combination of an outer working barrel havinga passageway therethrough, an inner working barrel within saidpassageway having itself a passageway therethrough, the inner workingbarrel being externally spaced from the inner wall of the passageway ofthe outer working barrel, an elongated expansible pumping sleeve, meansclamping the pumping sleeve at its upper end upon the upper outsideportion of the inner working barrel, means clamping the lower end of theexpansible pumping sleeve externally upon the lower portion of theinside working barrel, the inside working barrel having duct meanstherethrough for the travel of an operating fluid into the lower portionof the sleeve for expanding the sleeve at said lower portion andthroughout its length up to the means which connects the upper part ofsaid sleeve to the inner working barrel, said sleeve being spaced withinthe passageway of the outer working barrel to define a liquidaccumulating chamber, port means providing ingress passage for admissionof liquid in the lower portion of said working barrel to theaccumulating chamber, the port means to said sleeve being located abovethe ingress passage so that the lower portion of the sleeve whenexpanded will seal olf the ingress passageway to said accumulatingchamber, means in the upper portion of the outer working barrelproviding egress passage means between the accumulating chamber and thepassageway of the working barrel above said expansible sleeve, tlapvalve A means carried by the inner working barrel externally thereonnormally closing olf the egress means and operable to permit the liquidto pass into the upper portion of the working barrel under pressureagainst the liquid in the accumulating chamber. l

3. A pump unit as described in claim 2 in which the inner'working barrelwith the expansible sleeve and the means which connects the same at itsupper and lower ends upon the inner working barrel is liftable from theouter working barrel without moving the latter, through linear andnon-rotatable movement.

4. A hydraulic pump as described in claim 2 in which the expansiblepumping sleeve gradually increases in thickness from the lower endthereof at the ingress port means to a location adjacent the egresspassage means whereby to impart thereto a variable resistance which willenable the sleeve to first expand at said ingress port means and thengradually expand upwardly towards the egress passage means.

5. In a hydraulic system for pumping liquids fromA wells the combinationof a prime mover operable to place an operating fluid under intermittentpressure, a well casing having a passageway therethrough adapted at itslower end to be located in liquid within a well, a pump unit in saidpassageway adapted to be submerged in the well liquid at the lower endof said casing, said unit comprising an outer working barrel, an innerworking barrel, a pulsating sleeve, the outer working barrel having anaccumulating chamber therein between said plusating sleeve and the innerwall of said outer working barrel, the inner working'barrel having apassage-- way communicating with the well casing, the inner workingbarrel having duct means for transmittal of operating fiuid into thesleeve for expanding it, means providing an ingress passageway at thelower end of the outer working barrel opening into said accumulatingchamber, an egress passageway means opening from the accumulatingchamber to the well casing passageway, and check valve means normallyclosing off the egress passageway means thereabove for supporting acolumn of liquid within the passageway of said well casing.

6. In a pulsating type of pump unit the combination of an outer casinghaving a chamber therein, an inner casing within the chamber of theouter casing having a passageway therethrough, a detachable seat mountedin the chamber in the outer casing in the upper portion thereof having adownwardly convergent seating surface, a lower ring detachably mountedin the chamber of the outer casing in the lower portion thereof, anelongated expansible pulsating sleeve, annular means mounted externallyupon the upper portion of the inner casing clamping the upper portion ofthe sleeve upon said inner casing, said clamping means having adownwardly convergent surface for seating upon the seating surface ofsaid upper ring and defining therebetween a liquid egress passage, meansclamping the lower portion of the sleeve upon the lower portion of saidinner casing externally thereon whereby the sleeve may expand betweenits clamped ends and into the chamber of the outer casing for forcingliquid therefrom through the egress passage, liquid ingress meansbetween the sleeve lower clamping means and the lower ring for travel ofliquid from a well into the said chamber, the inner casing havinglateral duct means opening into the lower extensible portion of saidpulsating sleeve whereby under the force of an operating duid the lowerpart of the sleeve will be expanded to seal off the egress passage andexpand across the chamber for forcing the liquid through the egresspassage, and a liftable valve mounted upon the inner casing fornormally'sealing off the egress passage above the accumulating chamber.

7. A pump as described in claim 6 in which said sleeve has an increasingthickness from the lower end thereof towards the upper end thereofwhereby under the force of operating fluid the sleeve will expand firstat the lower portion thereof and then gradually upward across saidchamber.

8. ln a pump unit for use in the pumping of liquids from wells, thecombination of an inner cylinder having a passageway therethrough, anouter cylinder, relatively spaced; upper: andlower; connecting meansyconnecting Vthe inner' cylinder` to thev outer cylinder,Y with theinner and outer cylinders defining anaccumulating chamber therebetween,`an expansibleV pulsating sleeve connected in sealed; relation, at itsupper end. upon the innerv cylinder at said upper connectingfrneans4-and at its lower end being connected in sealedrelatiorr upon` the innercylinder at the lower connecting'means, said expansible sleeveV lyingexternallyiof' the ,inner cylinder in; the said chamber in close` butexpansibleproxirnity to the externalV surfacing ofY theinner, cylinder,the inner cylinder having duct means: opening into the passageway of theinner cylinderandfintoythe expansible sleeve, saidupper connecting meanshaving duct meansA therethrough, opening into .saidaceumulatingchamberand into theouter cylinder above thejuppcrconnectingmeans, saidA lower connecting meansY havingA ductmeans,therein opening into said ac cumulatingchamber; and into the outercylinder, means tofseal oithe; duct means. of the lower connectingmeans'under fluide expansion action of said sleeve, and valve meansnormally maintaining the duct means of the upper connecting means closedbut operable to open upon expansion of ysaid sleeve within saidaccumulating chamber for forcingl uid from said accumulating chamberthrough said duct means of the upper connecting means and into the outerworking cylinder above the upper connecting means.

9. A pumpiunit as described in claim 8 in which said expansion sleeveisconstruct-ed. to expand` starting at its lower end andihavinganincreasing resistance to expansion in directionv upwardly therealoug,the duct means communicating rthe passageway, of the inner cylinder withsaid expansion: sleeve being'located at the area of least expansiveresistance of said sleeve.

l0. A pulsating` type of pump unit as described in claim 8 in which theduct means communicating the pas` sageway of the inner cylinder withsaid sleeve is located adjacent to the lower connecting means foradmitting fluid under pressure from said inner cylinder passageway intothe said expansiony sleeve, said expansion sleeve gradually increasingineffectiveL thickness from adjacent said duct means which admits fluidfrom the passageway of the inner cylinder-upwardly to a locationadjacent to the upper vconnecting means whereby the sleeve will expandfirst at its lower end and then gradually upwardly for forcing tluidfrom the accumulating chamber in an upward direction'and iinally theduct means of said upper connecting. means.

References Cited'in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS862,867 Eggleston Aug. 6, 1907 1,922,264 Shirner Aug. 15, 1933 1,940,516Tennant Dec. 19, 1933 2,435,179 McGovney Jan. 27, 1948 2,526,086 SandersOct. 17, 1950

